National Scholarships

National Scholarships

National Scholarship Programs

The AWS Foundation has expanded its national scholarship program, which now includes the following individual scholarships each worth a minimum of $2,500 annually. These scholarships are for students pursuing a specific degree at an accredited four-year college or university. To take advantage of this program, students will need to plan now for the following year. Professors and instructors of vocational schools, technical colleges, community colleges and universities are encouraged to share this valuable information with their staff and students. The deadline for applying is February 15.

Miller Electric International WorldSkills Competition ScholarshipTo become eligible for this scholarship, the applicant must compete in the National SkillsUSA Competition for welding and advance to the AWS Weld Trials at the AWS International Welding and Fabricating Exposition and Convention, which is held on a bi-annual basis. The scholarship will be awarded under the following guidelines.

The winner of the U.S. Weld Trial Competition will receive the following:The Miller Electric Mfg. Co. Scholarship consisting of up to $10,000 per year for a period of four consecutive years (total maximum $40,000); Up to $1,000 in AWS Publications; a four-year complimentary full AWS membership; an AWS Certification to which he/she qualifies at the trials. The winner qualifies for this award with his/her successful completion of the World Skills Competition; otherwise student accepts an award equivalent to a runner-up scholarship

The runners-up of the U.S. Weld Trial Competition will receive:A $1,000 scholarship to be used within two years of the Weld Trial Competition; a one-year complimentary full AWS membership; an AWS Certification to which he/she qualifies at the trials.

Runners-up are eligible to receive awards on June 1, following the Weld Trial Competition and upon successful completion of the appropriate application information.

Scholarships to runners-up may be requested anytime within a two-year span of the Weld Trial Competition.

For more information or an application please visit the Detroit Section website at www.awsdetroit.org, under Scholarships.

Dietrich and Betty Roth ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Roth for a student pursuing a two-year or four-year degree in welding in the state of Michigan. The student must have completed their first year of higher education, be a full time student, and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0. Proof of financial need is required. Preference will be given to students in the field of resistance welding. The deadline is March 15, of each calendar year for the fall semester. The award is $2,500.

For an application, please contact Vicki Pinsky at vpinsky@aws.org or call 800-443-9353 x212.

Richard "Dick" Emmit Blaisdell ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by the Kansas City Section to honor Mr. Blaisdell. The award is $1,000.

Dr. John Gerken Named ScholarshipThe scholarship is sponsored by the Cleveland Section.

H. D. Rivere ScholarshipThe scholarship is sponsored by the South Florida Section.

Dennis K. Eck - Houston Section Named ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by Mr. Eck for students in the AWS Houston Section. The award is $1,250.

George Kampschafer - Houston Section Named ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by the AWS Houston Section to honor George Kampschafer. The award is $500.

John F. Hinrichs Memorial ScholarshipThis scholarship is made possible through the National Robotic Arc Welding Conference, the AWS Milwaukee Section, the D 16 Committee, and the many friends and colleagues of John F. Hinrichs who wish to continue his legacy.

This scholarship is for a student in high school, tech college, or other school in welding or engineering related program. The student may be full or part time, but must exhibit a financial need to qualify. Applicant is also expected to write an essay on a specific topic as noted in the application.

James Koster ScholarshipThe scholarship is sponsored by the West Michigan Section.

Jerry Hope Endowed ScholarshipThe scholarship is sponsored by Sections within District 19.

Kansas Section Scholarship

Lancaster Section Scholarship

Los Angeles-Inland Empire Scholarship

David J. Landon ScholarshipDavid J. Landon is Manager of Welding Engineering at Vermeer Corporation in Pella, Iowa and the 2015 President of the American Welding Society. A 1981 graduate of LeTourneau University, Landon received a Bachelor of Science degree in welding engineering. He has been a member of the American Welding Society since 1983 and has been active in the local section, district, national, and international levels. Landon has had a passion for training welders throughout his career and is always willing to share his passion for welding with anyone who will listen. Mentored by some of the great heroes in the welding industry, Landon's passion of mentoring others can be summed up in the theme of his presidential year of AWS, "Heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things; to whom will you be a hero today?"

This endowment was made possible by the generous donations of the Iowa Section of the American Welding Society, Vermeer Corporation, and the matching gift program approved by the Board of Directors of the American Welding Society in 2013.

Consistent with Landon's passion, the purpose of this scholarship is to enable young welders to develop and refine their abilities through education and to aid them in their efforts to accomplish extraordinary things.

Paul O' Leary Memorial - Idaho/Montana Section Named ScholarshipThis scholarship honors Paul's dedication to hard work, academics, welding, and his love for Montana. To be considered for this scholarship one must provide evidence of a strong work background, hands-on welding experience, academic excellence, and a residency or college tie to Montana. The student must be enrolled full time in a 2- or 4-year welding or metallurgy program. Proof of financial need is required to qualify.

For more information or a scholarship application, contact Nancy Carlson by email at nancymcarlson@q.com or telephone 208-523-9128.

The deadline is March 1st, for the following Fall term. The award is $500.

Shelton L. Ritter - New Orleans Section Named ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by the New Orleans Section. The award is $1,250.

Ronald C. and Joyce Pierce - Mobile Section Named ScholarshipThe award is sponsored by Ronald C. Pierce, Chairman Emeritus AWS Foundation, AWS Past President, and Joyce Pierce, to pursue a degree in engineering. The student must have a minimum 2.7 overall grade point average, and be a full-time college sophomore, junior, or senior. $5,000 to be divided between three recipients.

Perry, James and Salebra ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by the Green & White Mountains Section. The scholarship is for a student pursuing an associates or bachelors degree in a technical discipline such as, but not limited to, Welding Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology, Metallurgy, Materials Science with an emphasis on materials joining. The award is $2,500, and priority will be given to students from the Green & White Mountains Section.

Tri-Tool - Sacramento Section Named ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by Tri-Tool, Inc. and the AWS Sacramento Section. The award is $1,000.

O. J. Templet Memorial - Baton Rouge Section Named ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by BR Welding Supply and other donors in memory of O.J. Templet, The award is $750.

Tidewater Virginia Section ScholarshipThe AWS Tidewater Virginia Section has provided this scholarship to encourage students to pursue a college degree in Welding Engineering, Materials Joining Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology and Materials Joining Engineering Technology. The Section is comprised of Welding Professionals engaged in Shipbuilding, Heavy and Light Fabrication, Research and Design, Education, Equipment Solutions, Sales and Integration. The Section promotes training opportunities starting with the Boy Scouts, followed by high school level programs and then workforce development courses. Our desire is to see applicants achieve higher education and then apply this to welding related fields in the Tidewater Area or the greater areas of Virginia.

This scholarship is provided to encourage students to further their education beyond High School in the fields of Welding Engineering, Materials Joining Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology and Materials Joining Engineering Technology.

Applicants must be a citizen of the United States. Priority will be given in the following order: a. Applicants who reside in the Boundaries of the AWS Tidewater Virginia Section. (See AWS Website for map showing the Section boundaries.) b. Applicants from the State of Virginia. c. Applicants attending LeTourneau University and majoring in Welding and Materials Joining Engineering or Welding and Materials Joining Engineering Technology.

The deadline to apply is April 25th, and the award amount is $1,000. For more information and an application, please visit the Tidewater Virginia Section website at www.awssection.org/tidewater/scholarship

West Michigan Section ScholarshipThe AWS West Michigan Section Named Scholarship is sponsored by the West Michigan Section of AWS. The recipient must be enrolled in a two or four-year welding program and be a resident of Michigan or attend a Michigan college. The student must have a high school diploma or equivalent and have a minimum overall GPA of 3.00. Proof of financial need is required. The Scholarship must be used toward an Associate or Bachelors degree in Welding Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology, or welding a related field. The funds are for tuition, books, and/or lab fees. The award is $750.00.

Donald and Jean Cleveland - Willamette Valley Section Named ScholarshipThis award is sponsored by Donald and the late Jean Cleveland in memory of their parents John and Tressie Barrong and Claude and Ruth Cleveland. The award is $1,250.

Willamette Valley Section Scholarship

William H. Harrison, Jr. Memorial ScholarshipThe scholarship is sponsored by the Mobile Section.

Amos and Marilyn Winsand - Detroit Section Named ScholarshipThe Amos and Marilyn Winsand-Detroit Section Named Scholarship is sponsored by Mr. and Mrs. Winsand and the AWS Detroit Section. Mr. Winsand is a former AWS Treasurer and Foundation Trustee. The recipient must be enrolled in a two or four-year program, and be a resident of Michigan or attend a Michigan college. The Scholarship is for an Associate or Bachelors degree in Welding Engineering, Welding Engineering Technology, or a related field, and the funds are for tuition, books, and/or lab fees. The award is $2,500. For an application, please visit the Detroit Section website at www.awsdetroit.org under Scholarships.

York Central PA Scholarship

District Named Scholarships

AWS District 3 ScholarshipSponsored by District 3 and the Baltimore Section. The Award is $500.

District 3 Shirley Bollinger ScholarshipShirley Bollinger received a Bachelors Degree form York College in 1986 with a dual major in Marketing & Business Administration. It took Shirley 8 years of night school to fulfill her dream of a college degree. While pursuing her education at night, she also maintained a full-time job, and was the mother of 2 very active children.

Shirley was employed full time from 1977 to 2000 with ESAB Welding & Cutting Products in Hanover, PA. She was a very active member on the York-Central Section in York, PA where she served in many different capacities, eventually as Chairman from 1988-1989. Shirley served on the AWS Board as a District 3 Director from 1990 to 1997. Eventually Shirley reached her goal as the first woman President of the American Welding Society from 1998 to 1999. With this scholarship, District 3 hopes to encourage and help students to further their education in welding and to keep Shirley's legacy of secondary education alive.

This scholarship is to pursue a minimum four-year bachelors degree in welding engineering or welding engineering technology.

The annual award is $1,250, and the deadline is March 1st.

Bill Myers - District 6 Named ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by the former AWS Allegheny Section to honor AWS Past President, Bill Myers. The award is $750.

Ed Cable-Bug-O - District 7 Named ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by Bug-O Systems and is for a student pursuing a certificate or degree in welding or a related field with an interest in welding automation or mechanization. The student must be full time with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and have an interset in welding automation or mechanization. The award is $1,250.

AWS Detroit Section, District 11 Fred Ellicott Scholarship for Arc WeldingThis scholarship is sponsored by the AWS Detroit Section. The Award is $1,250. Please visit www.aws.org/foundation/district_scholarships.html for a District Scholarship application for this scholarship.

AWS Detroit Section, District 11 Dietrich Roth Scholarship for Resistance WeldingThis scholarship is sponsored by the AWS Detroit Section. The Award is $1,250. Please visit www.aws.org/foundation/district_scholarships.html for a District Scholarship application for this scholarship.

Nancy and Barry Carlson – District 20 ScholarshipNancy Carlson spent 26 years at DOE's Idaho National Laboratory in the nondestructive evaluation group working with the welding group on sensing and control of welding processes. During that time she was actively involved in the American Welding Society - locally serving as a section officer for the Idaho/Montana section, regionally as District director of ID, MT, WY, CO, NM, and UT for three years, and nationally serving as a committee member and chairman of the AWS Education Scholarship Committee for over a decade. None of her AWS activities would have been possible without the support of her husband and daughter.

Barry Carlson served his country for 20 years in the US Navy both in wartime and peacetime and had the opportunity to also teach basics electricity and electronics school in Great Lakes. His Navy years allowed him to spend significant time in the Pacific and allowed him to help many junior enlisted members of the electrical and engineering division learn their craft.

This scholarship is available to honorably discharged veterans or non-traditional welding students in at least their second year of welding studies in either a 2-year or 4-year undergraduate welding program.

Bob and Evelyn Schneider - District 21 ScholarshipThis scholarship is available to students who reside in and plan to attend an academic institution within District 21. The student must be attending a two year course of study that will result in at least an associate’s degree, or certificate in welding. The student must have a 3.0 GPA and proof of financial need. For more information, contact vpinsky@aws.org.

District 22 ScholarshipThis scholarship is sponsored by Sections within District 22. For more information, contact vpinsky@aws.org.

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